New Jersey: Ventor Mayor facing recall threats

Ventnor Mayor Michael Bagnell recall threats moving forward, with group needing 2000 signatures.

Earlier this month, DeLuca and those involved in the recall effort — including Ventnor Concerned Citizens members Linda Kaplan, Phyllis Antosca, Sonia Loadenthal — sent a letter and survey to Ventnor residents asking their opinions on whether to recall the mayor. The letter included several allegations against Bagnell, who was elected to the Board of Commissioners in May 2012 along with running mate Frank Sarno and was chosen mayor over former mayor Theresa Kelly, a city commissioner.

The letter labeled Bagnell’s selection of his “campaign manager” Tom Quirk as Ventnor management specialist “cronyism;” alleged that Amy Weintrob's selection as solicitor was a “political IOU” to her father, former Commissioner Steve Weintrob; and criticized Bagnell's selection of his “friend for 40 years” Charles Sabatini as engineer. It also cited what the group claimed was improper planning before and during Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath.
Bagnell has disputed many of the allegations in the letter.